It is a respiratory illness that is caused by a virus. The Flu is highly contagious and is usually spread by the coughs and sneezes of a person who is infected.

Can we prevent Flu? YES! try to follow these simple rules to save yourself from getting sick:

Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. …

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Practice good health habits and get plenty of rest.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Super easy steps to follow but not everyone does it. Getting flu shots is one of the most important ways to prevent the flu from spreading between people. Personally, I have already gotten my flu shot, and now its your turn to stop the virus from spreading. Get your flu shot as soon a possible before it’s too late.

If you missed the flu shot at health services you can still get it at local pharmacies. Rite Aid down the street has them even Target has them, so get yours today!

I am writing this to cheer you up because you are important. We all deal with stress from time to time. With the end of the semester approaching, we are feeling stressed out. We are getting closer to the end of the semester, but we are not there yet! Many exams and papers coming up and we need to work hard to end up strong. Don’t let stress get the best of you and try to handle it . We all worked very hard to be who we are today, so we deserve to be happy and successful. try to deal with stress and relax. I have a list of tips that works for me when I’m stressed, see if they can help you manage your stress:

Take a break: It may seem difficult to get away from your busy life, but you really need to take care of yourself for a while. Take a break from the things that are stressing you out.

Exercise: I am not a sports person; but my friend told me about how much regular physical activity can make us feel better, give us a lot of energy, and make us healthier. I started exercising regularly and now I feel the difference in my life style.

Talk to someone: Call a friend or talk to someone you trust. You have no idea how much this could help you get through.

Pray and thank God for what you have: Mindful prayer helps the mind and body to relax and focus. Appreciate and be grateful for what you have makes you realize how lucky you are.

I’m so excited to spend spring break with my family in NY. Spring break is the time for me and most of you to forget about midterms and essays, and just have fun in the sun; hopefully it will be warm. Many of us will be traveling to visit family or in a vacation just make sure that you are safe while traveling. I just thought I could remind you of some safety tips because your safety matters. here is a list for your safety:

1. Limit alcohol: you really don’t want to make drinking alcohol part of your break, and if you do you should make sure that you are not traveling while you’re drunk. remember that it can impair your judgment and actions. Don’t drink and drive. I’m positive that you don’t want to hurt yourself or others.

2. Be active: Spring break is the time for you to rest and have fun. Don’t just sit there and study. If you don’t have any plans make ones; there is a lot you can do to enjoy your break. *Note: if you have paper or a project due right after spring break make sure you make time to do them beside your fun time. Don’t blame me if you don’t have it finished on time

3. Plan a successful trip: if your going somewhere make sure that you are taking everything you need for your trip

Now that we are in the cold grip of the winter season, we need to remember that with the

cold temperatures, we need to take extra precautions to prevent serious health problems.

About Frostbite

simply put, is freezing of the skin. The nose, ears, cheeks,chin, fingers or toes are the most often affected.

It can lead to permanent damage,or in severe cases, amputation.

The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation, or those who are improperly dressed for the cold temperatures.

frostbite causes numbness to the area affected, the victim is often the last to know, and finds out only after someone else points it out to them. At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin.

Symptoms:

a white or grayish-yellow skin area

skin that feels unusually firm or waxy

numbness

Things you should do when you have Frostbite:

Get into a warm room as soon as possible.

Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage.

Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).

Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.

Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.

Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

*Note: Because frostbite and hypothermia both result from cold exposure, it is important to determine whether the victim also shows signs of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a more serious medical condition and requires immediate emergency medical assistance.

Influenza can still pose a serious health risk, and vaccination is the best way to protect yourself.

Why should people get vaccinated against the flu?

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Children and young adults are more likelyto be affected by influenza compared to older adults. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Flu vaccines are always a good way to prevent seasonal influenza.

How do flu vaccines prevent the disease?

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

YOU CAN GET THE FLU VERY EASILY! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!. Most experts believe that the flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk.

How to Treat the Flu:

doctors say it’s important to rest, try to eat nourishing food, and drink more fluids than you ordinarily do. Fever can be dehydrating, and drinking more helps you replace what is lost. Water is fine, though soup can be a great option, especially if you don’t have much of an appetite. If you don’t feel much like moving around, it’s fine to stay in bed. Get up when you feel you can.

People who have higher risk for influenza complications such as: children, older people over 65, or those who have other diseases should visit the doctor and be treated as soon as possible.

Vaccines are AVAILABLE don’t wait!!!

you can walk in anytime during Rite Aid Pharmacy hours and get your flu shot to prevent the disease (No Appointment Needed) .

Don’t you need a break from your busy life?! I bet you do! We’re almost there. Our holiday starting very soon. This time of the year we start our preparations for Christmas. We’re all excited and happy to be with our family and friends; its the time where we all sit together and enjoy life. Remarkable moments we spend together without stress or sadness; sharing a big smile on the face that is coming from the bottom of the heart. I am very sure that we don’t want to miss a single moment of this joy so its important for us to stay safe. Following small tips on our Christmas holiday can make a great difference to make you enjoy your time even more…

Wash your hands often.

Stay warm.

Manage stress.

Travel safely.

Be smoke-free.

Get check-ups and vaccinations.

Aren’t you excited about Thanksgiving holiday?! What comes to my mind when I think of Thanksgiving I think of FOOD!!! LOts and lots of yummy food.

Thanksgiving food is some of the most delicious fare that you’ll eat all year long. We all should use a guide to healthy choices on this special day; Thanksgiving only comes around once a year, so why not go ahead and splurge? Because gaining weight during the holiday season is a national pastime. Year after year, most of us pack on at least a pound (some gain more) during the holidays– and keep all extra weight permanently.

Important information we all need to know:

·Eat less and exercise more’ is the winning formula to prevent weight gain during the holidays,” Diekman says. “Increase your steps or lengthen your fitness routine the weeks ahead and especially the day of the feast.”

·You might think it makes sense to save up calories for the big meal; experts say eating a small meal in the morning can give you more control over your appetite. Start your day with a small but satisfying breakfast–suchasan egg with a slice of whole-wheat toast, or a bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk — so you won’t be starving when you arrive at the gathering; that could make you eat much less when the big meal ready.

As many of you may know this Saturday is the Walk for Hope at JMU. How many of you are planning to go? I hope all of you are going because it truly is an amazing event to go to and a wonderful experience. It’s a great time to spend with your friends and having fun meeting new people while getting some exercise and raising awareness. All the while you can be hanging out with the one and only Herm!

For those of you who don’t know the Walk for Hope is an event created to raise funds and awareness for the treatment of mental illness. It was started by a community to honor a man that they knew and loved that died in 1988. He and his wife started the Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness after a close family member of theirs was diagnosed with severe Bi-polar disorder. Together the community walked around Raleigh, NC and ended up having over 200 people with them and raised more than $35,000 to give to the Foundation of Hope. To date the walks have raised and given over $3.4 Million toward research, treatments, and developing new researchers at the University of North Carolina. It’s crazy to think that the Walk for Hope is the Foundation’s ONLY annual fundraiser that they have and it is enough to provide the money needed for research innovations. And you can be a crucial part of that too!

So how can I get involved you ask? Here’s how:
This Saturday from 9a.m. to 12 p.m. you can show up at JMU’s Godwin field and walk! In order to get a t-shirt and really feel involved, you’ll need to “Sign up” to walk. To do this you can log in to your Facebook account and type in “Walk for Hope- Harrisonburg” and the page will appear before your eyes. You will then need to click on the icon with a blue butterfly that says “Register to Walk”. It will then guide you through the steps to get registered. If you can’t make it on Saturday, but still want to help out, you can always make a donation. To do this you can go to their main website <www.walkforhope.com> and under the “Participate” tab you can click on “General Contribution” and make a monetary donation to the Foundation.

What all will be there for me to do? Well there will be snacks! Yay for snack! If you are anything like me, food is amazing and free food is even better! There are going to be guest speakers that you can listen to, music to dance and have a good time with and lots of activities to partake in.

So if you are just looking for something to do to get out of your dorm room this weekend this is the perfect thing to do. Not only is it celebrating the beginning of Spring, but you are making a difference in so many lives while getting some exercise for your own health benefit too! So grab a friend and head on down to JMU and walk with a purpose.

As the Foundation says by “Walking together we ARE the HOPE!”

Have a great rest of your week and hope to see you out walking on Saturday!
Allison

Like many in the world who claim their heritage to be Irish I am looking forward to this Sunday! It’s a day for me to spend time with my family and to consume traditional Irish food of Shepherd’s Pie and Corned beef and cabbage. But did you know where St. Paddy’s Day originated from and that the color originally associated with Saint Patrick himself was not green?

Traditionally St. Patrick’s Day was created to commemorate Saint Patrick one of the most recognized patron saints of Ireland. He was noted for bringing Christianity to Ireland and getting rid of all the “snakes”. He was not the first person to introduce Christianity to the island, but the first to “make it stick”. St. Patrick was believed to not even be from Ireland either! It is said that he was actually from Britain and was then enslaved in Ireland for many years and then after having dreams of angels talking to him as well as God, he returned to Ireland to get rid of all the pagans.

The very first St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t even celebrated in Ireland either. It was introduced right here in the United States in none other Boston, Massachusetts in 1737. It didn’t become an official holiday in Ireland until 1903. In the U.S. it is not observed as an official holiday, but is recognized by just about everybody. Unfortunately the day has lost it’s meaning over the years as it has become more and more secularized by other countries. We tend to focus on the wearing of green, drinking of alcohol, and parades. We have forgotten what St. Paddy did for Ireland and how it would be different if not for him. Speaking of wearing green, green wasn’t even the color originally associated with St. Patrick. Can you guess what it might have been? It was…blue! Weird right? Well it wasn’t until kids started wearing the green to school that it became the now iconic color of St. Patrick’s Day.

I would love to be able to go Ireland just to explore where my dad’s side of the family came from and to see the beautiful countryside. It would also be awesome to go celebrate this day with the Irish in Ireland as well. In Ireland though, since we Americans associate this day with drinking and going to the bar, most of the bars are closed on St. Patrick’s Day so everyone can spend time with their families. Also they will life the restrictions from Lent for the day so that people can consume alcohol and other such items. An old Irish tradition is to “Drown the Shamrock”. In this tradition you are to place a shamrock on top of your whiskey an let it float in order to have a prosperous year. Interesting!

Did you know that St. Patrick’s Day is observed in over 11 different countries? Some of these are Japan, Argentina, and Russia! Also in the U.S. in Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green every year! Wow, that’s a lot of dye! In every country St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated a little differently, but they all include some sort of parade, the drinking of beer, and wearing of green. Some countries have a little more elaborate celebrations than others, but they all have the same secular background.

So what are you going to do this St. Patrick’s Day? I hope that you can at least take a minute to acknowledge the introduction of Christianity into Ireland and what it has done for us now in 2013. Of course you can still have fun and wear the green and dress up as leprechauns, but also try and celebrate our faith.